Ireland gets €2m Olympic boost

Ireland’s 2016 Olympic ambitions have received a €2 million cash injection that will allow sports to fund acclimatisation camps, meet competition costs and, in some cases, provide extra equipment for athletes targeting the Games in Brazil.

Minister for State for Sport and Tourism, Michael Ring, announced the extra funds yesterday, as well as a grant of €80,000 which will allow Special Olympics Ireland relocate from rented accommodation to the Sports Campus at Abbotstown.

The first €1m set aside for camps follows on from similar grants awarded a year out from previous Olympic Games and has already been dispersed to 18 organisations of whom Paralympics Ireland, with €188,154, were the largest recipients.